All-Stars Shine, League is Fine

It was meant to be a friendly hit out between the stars of the NRL and the stars of Indigenous heritage, a game which simply recognised the contribution of the aforementioned Indigenous players and representatives to the game of Rugby League.

Yet, it was that and more. And more. And more.

Not only did it provide an extraordinary clash between two great sides, but it offered the perfect start to the upcoming National Rugby League season for 2010. If ever Rugby League needed a boost, especially after the competition of the AFL now rife in the heartland of League, it got it, and a boost that would never have been expected in the first place.

The traditional Aboriginal dance, celebrated with the help of some Indigenous brothers, emphasized the pride and honour each one of the Indigenous players took in wearing the jersey. They knew where they came from and were ready to fight for it.

In saying that though, the NRL All-Stars didn’t look a team who were going to stand by and let the occasion get to them. How could when you boast the likes of Benji Marshall, Darren Lockyer, Jarryd Hayne and Michael Jennings.

Impressively, even after the Indigenous All-Stars skipped out to a ten-point advantage the, the NRL All-Stars fought back with two four-pointers through Josh Morris and Benji Marshall, before Michael Jennings gave them the lead for the first time from a Brett Finch grubber.

The much-anticipated Sam Burgess stepped up to the plate as well, the big Englishmen clearly not reading the script with a huge hit on inspirational Indigenous skipper, Preston Campbell.

But the hard work was undone by a super one-handed Jonathan Thurston pass to Jamie Soward, allowing the Dragon to sprint away to the line and clinch the victory.

Arguably the biggest highlight of the match came when the always boisterous, Wendell Sailor, crossed over for the first points of the game. The big man then ran over to the corner post and mimicked the playing of the didgeridoo as his teammates danced around him.

It was something special, in the only scenario it might ever happen.

Although, Sailor revealed that the celebration wasn’t actually his idea.

“Actually about fifteen minutes before the game, Jonathan Thurston came up to me and said ‘if you get a chance how ‘bout picking up the corner post and playing it like a didgeridoo?’”

Sailor did take his chance as he comfortably handled Scott Prince’s grubber and scored the first ever points in the spectacle that is sure to continue for years to come. However, Sailor wasn’t the composed of all players when he saw the ball coming his way.

“I just thought, please do not drop this ball!” the former Dragon said.

The game also allowed the return for new Gold Coast ‘recruit’, Greg Bird, to Rugby League and Sailor had nothing but praise for the effort shown by the former Shark.

“He’s a winner,”

“He spent a lot of time with the kids during the week, and everyone deserves a second chance”

Sailor himself would know after ‘that’ drug controversy a few years back, but now we can see how second chances can be taken and put to good effect. After all Rugby League is the “most forgiving game” according to Sailor.

Another testimony to the game was the week-long lead up by both teams done in and around local communities.

“It’s different to (State of) Origin,” Sailor said.

“You got all the commercial advertising (during Origin lead up), but this week we just spent time in the community and training,”

A bumper crowd in the mid 20,000’s were at Skilled Stadium to watch the one-off clash, a good result after the national voting of the teams by the fans of the game.

The game was also the first to trial the new ‘8-point try’ system.

Similar to that in American Football, after scoring a try, team’s could opt to either take the regular two point conversion, or, attempt to score another try with only one tackle to do so. Unfortunately neither team could score the inaugural ‘8-point try’ but there is definitely merit to the system so we’ll be keeping an interested eye on the proceedings concerning it.